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Alinor listened to the arguments in silence for a time, her expression growing more and more dissatisfied. In talking of tactics, these idiot men had forgotten what had started this affair. "My lords," she said at last, "I know little of Wales and nothing of war, but what you say puzzles me greatly. Unless spies have reported our movementswhich you tell me you do not think likelywhy should Lord Gwenwynwyn think we came this way at all. How could he have known our route, which we did not know ourselves, enough days in advance to summon his army to Painscastle? Why should he even bother to set spies? If I was the bait for this trap, there is one place he knows we must go." |
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"Do you think we will find him openly encamped around Clyro?" Llewelyn asked a trifle sarcastically. |
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"Perhaps not openly, I do not know, but it is at Clyro you will find him. He would be a fool to split his force when he does not know how many come with you, and he would be a worse fool to try to guess which road you would take. You will find him at Clyro, perhaps hid in the woods, but what I fear is that you may find him inside the keep. Where else could Sir Peter seek protection from me and where else could he better lay a trap for you?" |
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It was a thought they had not considered, and Llewelyn ground his teeth at the idea of Owain being a hostage in his enemy's hands. Alinor's suggestion did not still the argument, but it was given strong support by the scouts, who reported that Painscastle was as still as the other keeps and, more important, there was no sign on the road or in the nearby woods of horses or men converging upon the place. What they had seen of animal droppings was on the road and, they judged, two days old. |
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"Let me be bait," Alinor then offered. "My men and I will ride out along the track. The scouts can follow alongside. If we are attacked, you can come to our rescue." |
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